I am a truck man, but also in my low-20s. I new I hada truck on the way, and when I was reading the paper one Friday I saw this article on the Ford SVT F150 Lightning. It was a 99, and it read:

"If you are reading this now and do not have one on order, we are sorry to say that you will not be getting one, as Ford will only be making 4000 of these. Most dealers we talked to reported thier allotments were sold sight-unseen."

Well, that was June 1999. Went to Seatle on a mini-vacation and to look for a Ford Lariat, cheap. We came across this kid that was tripping over his tongue, we told him we weren't leaving without a set of keys. He just got hired 5 minutes before that, so he brushed us off to another salesman, and he took us to the main lot. And there she sat, a 99 Ford SVT F150 Lightning, black. I asked and he said it just got there. Beleive it or not I wanted to test drive the F250 SuperDuty with the V10 and M6, so we did, and the salesman managed to stall it twice. Then came the Lariat, and then hesitently asked to drive the Lightning. He said sure, and I started to shake. You see the fastest car I had ever driven is a 3.1L cavalier. I was frightened when I did punch that 8 mile old truck from a 5 mph roll. That was Sep. 24th, and I recieved it in Alaska Oct. 18, longest 3 weeks in history.

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99 Black Lightning
factory tonneau cover, 100k mile warrantee, Line-Xed
F150online.com R hp sticker mod in the mail. Where's it at?
2.145 60' 8.789@82.71 (1/8) 13.603@101.05 1/4 same run
straight pipes, 'Major' rear lights, no chip
Lightning!
Kills! More kills!

 

Thanks to everyone that shared their stories. Great reading.

I have also never driven a Lightning. I will soon drive my 1st Lightning! Can't wait.



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Red '01 Bolt ordered 7/17/00
Built 1/10/01
ETA for delivery to dealer 1/29/01
Realistic delivery: Too long away!!!

 

i was impressed with my L right from the start . i went from a 97 xl with a 4.2 to this beast . and it keeps getting better!i cant wait for all the snow to melt so i can get her back out on the road . im sick of just looking at it ..man i envy you guys in the southern states

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silver 00
99 flht
lots of bills

 

I took a used(2,200 miles) Lightning for a test ride. I went to get on the entrance ramp to the highway, I punched the thing the rearend jumped sideways, but I kept on the gas. You should have seen the look on the salesmans face, White as a ghost. By the time I reached the end of the ramp I was doing 80mph. Went to the next exit, got of the highway. There is a straight road with a few lights hit eack one when it was red. By now the tires were warmed up(it was a cold day) When the light tured green I gave it a little gas then punched it, WEEEEEE What fun.
When we got back to the dealer, they tried to push me into the 2000, but I said no way. I want a 2001 put a deposit down, and now the wait.
I just love scaring salesmen, and the L is the perfect vehical to do it in.

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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip, K&N FIPK Intake.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.
Alpine CDA-7845, ADS P640 Amp, Focal Poly Kevlar seperates.
SILVER 2001 LIGHTNING on order
http://members.tripod.com/donf150/Welcome/id7.html


[This message has been edited by Don C (edited 01-12-2001).]

 

ECKOsvt,you mentioned you have a '70 GTO. Well I have a 99 Lightning (stock) and a '71 455 HO Trans Am. The TA has a 3 SPD automatic with a shift kit, 3.08 rear. MSD ignition, forged pistons and a few other goodies. I bought it in 1985 from a Pontiac mechanic who was big on drag racing. Builds his own motors.

I would say the Lightning is a comparable ride. This includes acceleration out of the hole as well as highway speeds. Great passing power.

Handling is great. The truck is very comfortable. And, I like sitting up high so I can see the traffic and the cops (before they see me)

Besides if you drive it for a while and don't like it, you can probably sell it for at least what you paid for it, unless you rag it out.

 

hey dude...i say get one....i had a 1994 red lightning i had bought as a dealer demo...it had some mods, head and intake work, chip pulleys, airfilter and all that junk but after my cousin got his 00 silver L i drove it...wow really impressive...i searched for a new lightning forever and finally found a 00 white one....i wouldnt trade it for anything............. very good investment!!

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red 1994 lightning....oh my god i never expected this thing to keep running this long......130,000 miles and still running strong.........

00 white L...JL filter kit and more mods on the way....

 

I test drove a Lightning back in April, 2000.

Very impressed with the performance. Felt nice when you punch it on the freeway and feel the kickdown then it just takes off.

Didn't handle quite as well as my mustang ('00GT), but the speed was defintley there.

Also love that loud *** blower whine it makes.

-Matt

 

Thank's for all the info:-0